Tips and Tricks: Chalk Lettering Effect
Spoon Graphics is offering a free tutorial on How to Create a Realistic Chalk Lettering Effect for your blackboard/chalkboard design projects. Example below. Have fun!
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Dash of Inspiration: Marketing Monday
A Dash of Inspiration, A Cup of Creativity by Doreen Marketing Monday
Understanding SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is difficult for most of us, as it’s an every-changing world. Fortunately for all of us GCU artists, we really don’t have to understand all that goes into making SEO successful for our cards. All we have to do is trust Greeting Card Universe who pays for experts in this field to advise and lead GCU in the right direction so that our cards are seen by search engines and receive the best ranking possible.
That means – YOU – the artist, if you want to actually sell your cards, MUST step up to the plate and take full advantage of the tips GCU has given us on how to best add that now necessary unique content, when we create our cards. This will ensure our ‘descriptive attributes’ serve us as well as possible, both on site and on external search engines.
For searches on the GCU site by customers, you need to have excellent keywords which accurately and fully represent your card, as well as; a strong Card Title – which is also a searchable field. For external searches, it’s all about the fresh, unique content that will make the difference between your card being IGNORED by Google or brought to the front of the search index. That unique content is our Card Description (Artist Notes).
Here is a great article on the blog – Nuts and Bolts Uniqueness Artist Notes SEO – which is a must read for those serious about selling their cards.
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Today I wanted to give some visual examples that will help you see this now necessary step in today’s online world for those artists who want to sell you cards. After all, if you’ve put the effort into creating a marketable greeting card, don’t you want to sell it?
Remember this? Card Submissions 101 – It still applies, although the uniqueness factor is a new tool since this document, but it’s still good to refresh your mind with the basics of Card Title, Keywords and Card Description (Artist Notes) should look like. This PDF is the perfect tool to keep open while you fill in the card submission form at GCU as a check list.
On the following examples, I’ve shared my Card Titles, Keywords and Description (Artist Notes) for a visual reference so you can see how to fill these fields when you create your submissions. Remember also, that old cards need this extra effort as well. Take the time every day to pull up a handful of your old cards and ensure that your Card Titles, Keywords and Artist Notes (Card Description) are the best they can be – you’ll start to see more sales when your cards actually are picked up by external search engines. Remember poor content = being ignored by Google.
And … though there should be no reason to remind you, remember that you are only hurting yourself by adding descriptive words, occasions, holidays and relations to any of these fields which do not directly apply to that specific card.
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My Card Title: Coach’s Birthday | Football Theme | Players on the Field | Custom
My Keywords: birthday,birthdays,coach,coach’s birthday,football coach,football themed,football,football players,team,football team,quarterback,mvp, tackle, lineman, score, game, sports, sporting,grass,crowd,scoreboard, custom, personalize
My Description: What better way to wish your football coach Happy Birthday, then to add his name as the MVP on the scoreboard of this personalized Birthday Card? He’s sure to call a time out for a great celebration when he see the crowd cheering for a great game day! Many thanks to Dianaz Designz, Karen’s Scraps, and Pixel Scrapper for the use of their elements to create this football themed greeting card.
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My Card Title: Pet Sympathy for the Loss of a Cat, Orange Tabby Painting
Note: Who is the card for? General categories means the card serves anyone for that occasion, so the WHO is the card for question does not apply, nor should the Card Title include text such as; ‘all occasion’, ‘anyone’, etc.- Instead focus on: What is the Occasion? Loss of a Cat – What is the Subject/Theme? Orange Tabby Pet Sympathy
My Keywords: cat,cats,feline,felines,pets,pet loss,pet sympathy,loss of a cat,tabby,orange tabby,condolences,loss of a pet,orange,blue,sleeping,painting,oil painting,digital oils,hibiscus,soft,sweet
My Description: This original digital oil painting by the artist is from a photograph by Bosela at Morguefile and features a beautiful orange tabby cat sleeping on a velvety blue sofa. The feline is surrounded by a hibiscus flower border in matching blues and orange hues making this pet sympathy card the perfect choice to add your message of condolence on the loss of a pet cat.
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My Card Title: Veterinary Graduate Congratulations | Custom Graduating Pets
My Keywords: veterinary,veterinarian,animal doctor,congratulations,new vet,veterinary graduate,graduation,graduate,graduating,dog,dogs,cat,cats,terrier,dalmatian,puppy,bulldog,tabby,kitten,blue,red,cute,pets,cats and dogs,custom,personalized
My Description: There’s a new vet in town, who just graduated from Veterinary School, and these cute cats and dogs dressed in graduation caps are ready to congratulate the graduate when you personalize the front of this card with the name of the new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The new Veterinarian is sure to smile when he or she sees these pets, and reads your message of congratulations!
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Later in the week we’ll announce the winners of February’s Challenge and then next Monday, March 2nd we’ll kick off our third challenge, so be sure to keep tuned in!
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So until next week … Learn … Create … Inspire
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Wanted: New Cards – Easter for Scout Troop Leader
Every Friday from now on, we’ll be showcasing a GCU category that has few or no cards. We’d like you to create at least one card for this category using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock) or your own graphic designs.
Remember, when you’re submitting your new card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers – cards submitted for underused categories are much more likely to be approved provided they follow the Submission Guidelines. Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Good luck!
Today’s category with only 7 cards is:
Holidays – Easter – For Scout/Troop Leader
Bear in mind that many recognizable aspects of the Boy Scouts of America are copyrighted.
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Tips and Tricks: Star Submitter
You Can Be a Star … Submitter!
Every card submitted at Greeting Card Universe goes through a review process to ensure the design meets GCU’s submission and marketability standards. Of course, this takes time. It’s hard waiting to learn the fate of new designs. Will the be Accepted? Declined? Returned for Edits? Or will the remain Pending a while?
Is there a way to speed up the waiting time? Yes. If you want your cards approved quickly, you should work toward achieving Star Submitter status.
What’s a Star Submitter? An artist who achieves this status may Fast Track all cards, gaining expedited reviews.
Who Chooses Star Submitters? The Review Team nominates artists whom they believe fit the criteria below.
How Do I Become a Star Submitter? An artist must show – consistently – that their card designs meet marketability standards and conform to GCU’s submission guidelines, contain no spelling or grammatical errors, and avoid mistakes such as design elements over the margin and trim lines. They must use correct and relevant keywords and categories, create good titles and product descriptions in their Artist’s Notes. They must give reviewers all relevant information in their Notes to Reviewer and basically do everything right from the get-go. To become a Star Submitter, learn the rules. Study the GCU Wiki. Understand the guidelines and standards. Make certain your images and verse fit the occasion.
What Do I Get As a Star Submitter? Expedited reviews. All cards are Fast Tracked, so you don’t have to wait long for your new cards to be approved.
Who Can Become a Star Submitter? Anyone! If you apply yourself – that’s the key. Star Submitter status is a reward for artists who have invested their time into mastering the “art” of GCU.
How Do I know When I’ve Become a Star Submitter? When you’re in the process of uploading your card, you’ll see text already in the Note to Reviewer field that says: “I am a Star Submitter so please expedite the review of this card.” Don’t delete the note! You will also find the Fast Track option has been checked. Don’t change it! As a Star Submitter, your submissions receive expedited reviews via Fast Track.
Star Submitters must still follow all Submission Guidelines. They must also continue to include links to website/TOU of any 3rd party elements in their designs.
So if you want faster review times, reduce the errors in your card designs, don’t make silly spelling mistakes, stay in the margins, and learn (and apply) the Submission Guidelines. And perhaps one day, you can be a Star Submitter too!
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Tips and Tricks: Watercolor Backgrounds in GIMP
Artists who use the free graphics editing program GIMP – we certainly don’t want to leave you out – and want to create their own trendy watercolor backgrounds for greeting card designs may benefit from this video tutorial: How to Create or Make Watercolor Backgrounds in GIMP. You might also benefit from this effect: Making a Watercolor Paint-Photograph in GIMP or How to Convert a Picture to Watercolor. Have fun!
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Tips and Tricks: Free High Resolution Patterns
Looking for high resolution patterns to use in your greeting card backgrounds? We’ve got a few sources for you right here with these cool Photoshop Patterns. Be sure to double check the individual Terms of Use/licensing – designers can change their terms at any time – and keep a record of URLs to put in your Notes to Reviewer. Have fun!
Sweet and Subtle PSD Heart Patterns
5 High Res Watercolor Textures
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Dash of Inspiration: Ray of Sunshine
A Dash of Inspiration, A Cup of Creativity by Doreen Ray of Sunshine
As a photographer, I know that those who create through the lens of a camera are in complete control of light within the walls of our studios, but when shooting outdoors, we don’t always have the luxury of observing the light and returning at the perfect moment to capture the image. In this technology rich environment, it’s imperative for the professional photographer to have good post-processing tools, and that we take advantage of all the tips and tricks we can find to help us add character to our photographs we want to be marketable on greeting cards.
Remember, there are a million and one sunset, rose and cute pet photo being submitted to GCU. So what is the key to making YOUR photograph of these common subjects a highly marketable, big selling commodity?
Give it the WOW factor GCU is looking for, that – ‘stop you in your tracks to take a second look’ – factor and you are sure to have created a card that customers will be drawn to and once they look at your card, they can’t resist the purchase.
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Today, I’m passing along some great tutorials to add a little sun to those outdoor images which may need a little something to grab the viewer’s attention. Remember to treat yourself, at least once a month, to learning something new that will benefit your art, card design and ultimate will inspire you to create!
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Creating Rays of Light – Capturing the real rays of light in nature depends a lot on timing, angle and location. When you get it all right, yet still miss those natural light rays, add them yourself.
Create a Starry Night Sky – by Steve Patterson
Master Lighting Effects in PS – By Vince Fraser
Not enough? Still want more tutorials of creating light effects?
25 Powerful Photoshop Light Effect Tutorials by linen
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Here are some freebies for you this week too:
Rays of Light Brushes 2 – By Tijo
Sunburst Brush Set – also by Tijo
Bokeh Texture/BG Pack – by joannastar-stock at DeviantArt READ her TOU
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If you missed our latest Design Challenge post, there’s still time. Entry deadline is February 23rd, so be sure to check it out and submit your design. The winning artist gets some awesome promotion!
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So until next week … Learn … Create … Inspire
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Wanted: New Cards – Physician Assistants Day
Every Friday from now on, we’ll be showcasing a GCU category that has few or no cards. We’d like you to create at least one card for this category using the Stock Cards function (Bigstock).
Remember, when you’re submitting your new card, add a little note about the intended category in your Notes to Reviewers – cards submitted for underused categories are much more likely to be approved provided they follow the Submission Guidelines. Be inventive, be clever, be creative. Good luck!
Today’s category with only 10 cards is:
Holidays – Physician Assistants Day – General
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Nuts and Bolts: How to Write Product Descriptions
Artist’s Notes:
How to Write Product Descriptions that Pop
As promised, we’re talking using the Artist’s Notes field to include a product description on your cards. If you don’t know why, check out Nuts & Bolts: Artist’s Notes and Product Description. We’ll wait. Okay, ready? Let’s get started.
Today I’m going to explain to you how to write a product description that pops. Yes, there’s a trick to it. That trick is simple, and at the same time, can be a challenge. You don’t need special training to do it, or a degree, or a black belt in promotion, or any ninja stealth marketing skills.
The most important thing to remember is: write about the card as if you were describing it to a blind person.
That’s what it boils down to. Until you get used to the process, I suggest you take a good look at your card, and just jot down words that describe the design. Here’s an example:
Happy 80th Birthday for Mom – Robin Chaffin
These are the words I’d jot down to describe this card: pink, tulips, tag, gingham, button, swirls, painting, vine. That’s also what I’d use in the keywords, among other things, so I’m killing two birds with one stone.
Now we can turn those random words into a description – for this card, in my Artist’s Notes, I’d say something like: “Celebrate your Mother’s 80th birthday with this pretty pink card with a delicate swirl pattern background, featuring a painting of potted tulips, and a scrapbook effect digital tag with gingham and button accent.”
A couple of things to keep in mind:
1) You have to be careful to avoid deceptive words like gold, glitter, lace, ribbon, etc. as shoppers may believe they’re getting a handmade card, or a card printed with metallic inks, etc. To prevent any misconceptions, use terms like digital, “look” – as in “silver look,” graphic – as in “graphically created glitter,” effect, and so on.
2) Whenever possible, include popular buzzwords in your description. In the example, I wrote “scrapbook effect” for a very good reason – scrapbooking (digital or otherwise) is very hot right now, and I can see that’s the effect Robin was going for in this card design. Just like keywords, it pays to do your research. Not sure how? Check out a previous Nuts & Bolts: Keywords for pointers.
Of course, your space is limited in the Artist’s Notes field, so don’t go completely berserk. If you find it helps, write your description first on a piece of paper or in Word, and tinker around with it until you’re satisfied you’ve ticked all the right boxes.
And here comes a big no-no: Keep in mind this is a product description, not an opportunity to tell shoppers about you, the artist, or give any other irrelevant information. Sure, tell folks where you took that picture of the waterfall. That’s part of the description. But leave out the bit about how you were on a picnic that day, and you got stung by a bee, and took the picture as you were falling into the stream. It’s about the greeting card, not you.
It will take practice, but you’ll get the hang of it. In time, you may even find you’re having fun. Now get out there and start describing!
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Inspiration Station: Greeting Card Trends
Looking to stay on top of the latest trends in greeting card design? Check out New Greeting Card Design & Printing Trends for some good advice which will benefit both newbies and seasoned artists. Granted, you can’t do much about card sizes and specialty foils, but you can certainly take home a few good suggestions.
GCU Community 